KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will soon receive supplies of the antiviral drug Tecovirimat (TPOXX) and the MVA-BN vaccine to combat the mpox virus through the Covid-19 Response Fund.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad confirmed this in an X post that he shared today (Sept 2).
He said the antiviral drug Tecovirimat (TPOXX) and the MVA-BN vaccine for mpox will be available soon.
"TPOXX is used to treat mpox, particularly for patients with severe infections and those who have weakened immune systems," he added.
To reduce the risk of mpox transmission, the Health Ministry (MOH) partnered with Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd on Aug 29 to tighten screening procedures for international travelers at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1. All passengers will now be screened via thermal scanners.
Previously, Indonesia's Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that smallpox vaccines can be used against mpox, as they belong to the same subfamily.
However, the effectiveness of smallpox vaccines differs from Covid-19 vaccines, which lose potency after six months.